Chapter 1

(Jake)

 

 

    <Run, Jake... run >
    I struggled...strived... and forced my way into the annihilated streets of this city unknown, the broken glass and the cracked cement beneath me cutting through my paws, and the fierce orange and black color of my fur being faded by the warm blood dripping down my side. I looked around... destruction surrounded me. Buildings were torn down, houses were decimated, the odor of death filled the smoke-filled air. And I, Jake, leader of the Animorphs, felt lifeless and empty.
    < Demorph, Jake > I told myself.
    I collapsed to the ground, feeling every inch of strength being drained out of my system. And with those remaining strength, I felt my body change...With those remaining strength... I could hear my bones start to crack.
Every sound it made, created a stabbing pain in my heart.And every pain it caused, pierced through my almost nonliving soul. I stopped demorphing.  I was human again.

    I opened my eyes, the first sight of light burning through its innermost core.Then, almost in a split-second, darkness took power. And I saw it...  A blood-shot eye staring right at me, torturing my whole
being.  Crayak. I kept still, crouched down the ground.  And then it spoke.
    " You failed, little Jake."
    The voice remained in my brain...
    " You failed."
    Those two words were left imprinted in my mind.
    You failed.
    You failed.
    You failed.

    I started trembling, my pulse beating rapidly, my tears uncontrollably  streaming down my cheeks. I was filled with despair, with hate, and negativity.  And yet I am so empty. Then I felt something enclose around me.  I felt
warmth, and security.
    They were arms... arms belonging to Cassie.

Chapter 2

(Cassie)

    I held him.  So tightly.
    "Shhhh, It's okay Jake... I'm here.  It's okay."
    I rocked him back and forth, hoping that his pain would ease away.
    "No, it's not" he answered... his voice almost soundless, almost dead.
    "Yes, it is.  Now, hush... don't wear yourself out." I said forcefully.
    "They're gone Cass.  Marco... I could've... If only I got there early... It's my fault.  Ax, he was gonna.... I thought
that he could save Marco. Tobias said that he'll... oh, god!  And Rachel, where's Rachel? RACHEL?!!!"
    Jake was delirious.  I grabbed his shoulders and shook him.  "It's over,Jake!" I snapped.
    I closed my eyes, and thought about the others.  They were gone... either they're alive or dead, they were still gone.  I was hurt inside... and if only I had tears left, I'd cry.
    The yeerks had won.  The war, and the defeat of the Animorphs had left me cold, morbid, and hateful.
    "It wouldn't be over If only... If only I got to them early.  If only I had enough time... There wasn't any time!  I
failed Cassie.  I'm a bad leader... I'm a bad, bad leader... I'm bad...."His words were getting to me... It annoyed me...it angered me.  They were itching through my skin, and I had the urge to scratch them all out.  This wasn't the Jake that I came to know.  My hand enclosed into a fist. "I'm a bad leader..."
    "Jake, STOP IT!"  I screamed.  "Stop it!"
    I felt the anger spread inside of me... and then my fist ran across his jaw.
    Silence.

Chapter 3

(Jake)

    I woke up during nightfall.  My muscles were aching and I could barely move.  My back rested against the wall of a torn-down building, it's white paint slowly stripping off ,revealing the abhorrent gray color of cement.  I looked up the sky, and I had to laugh.  Even in this deathly surrounding, the stars never failed to shine.  I glanced beside me, and caught a glimpse of Cassie, t he moon glow reflecting against her rich
mahogany complexion. With my eyes, I gazed at her, caressing her face with my stare.   She looked so peaceful, like the night, the soft breeze brushing against her closed eyelids.  God, she's so beautiful.  I lifted
up my hand and inched it slowly toward hers.  Gently, I touched her fingers, deeply absorbing the tenderness, and intimacy that is somehow given off by that one single action.  And yet, despite of the compassion that I felt at that moment, it also felt forbidden.  I drew away my hand from hers quickly.  It was weird.  For once I could sense that... that I didn't deserve her. Cassie stirred a bit. It scared me to get any closer to her, and yet it tortures me when I am not with her. I'm too weak now.  Too weak to protect her, too weak to admit that I love
her. I didn't want her to see me like this.  I didn't want her to feel unguarded in my presence. Cassie shifted again and she changed her position. She rested her head on my shoulder, her arm entwined through mine.
I saw her lips curl into a smile... perhaps she's dreaming about something. At least whatever it is, it's not a nightmare. I wanted to kiss her and enclose her into a tight embrace.
    But I didn't.
    I cursed myself for it...
    But I still didn't do it.
    I couldn't.

Chapter 4

(Cassie)

    "AAAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
    A strong, piercing scream disturbed the calmness of the night, and woke me and Jake up.
    "What was that?"  I asked.
    Jake didn't answer.  He just broke into a sprint, trying to find the source of the outcry. I could still see the purple and blue mark that my fist imprinted on his jaw.
    I followed him, the strange familiarity of the scream haunting every stride that  I make. I could feel the adrenalin flow of my body, racing against my heartbeat.
    The rush!
    We found ourselves in a building, the only edifice left standing after the war.
    "AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
    Hang in  there... whoever you are, I said. Jake and I followed the echoes of the voice... down the halls, up the
stairs....
    "Hurry, Hurry... make it... make it..."  I could hear Jake order himself.
    "We'll get there, Jake."  I told him, reassuringly.  I didn't want him to lose his spirits again.
    The stairs seemed endless, continuous.  I feel like I am pursuing eternity.
    We finally got there.  Fourth floor, the end of eternity.
    I motioned for Jake to hide behind a wooden wall while I took a peak inside the door when the scream came from. There, I saw somebody imprisoned in a metal cage:
     A guy, his body sprawled across the cold floor, beaten and bleeding.  Two men were pointing  dracon beams at him. It was a frightening sight, for nobody knows when those beams are gonna go off and kill the guy instantly.
    It was disturbing.
    It was insane.
    "Marco."  I heard Jake whisper.
    He read my mind.

Chapter 5

(Jake)

    "I'm going for it", I told Cassie.  My voice was shaking, but I tried to sound strong.
    She remained expressionless as she looked deep into my eyes.  "Battle Morphs?" she asked.
    "No, I'll morph... but you stay here.  Stay guard."
    Cassie mumbled something.  I guess she was disappointed that she doesn't get to fight, but I needed her ready, and uninjured just in case I fail.
    "Here I go..." I was nervous.  I could feel the changes start to occur when Cassie grabbed my wrist, her grip tightening  by the minute, almost cutting my circulation.  Her grasp was full of power, full of strength...I envied her.
    Then, in a compassionate voice she said "Careful, okay?"
    I could feel her gaze soften, her grip around my wrist loosened up as she brought her hand on my cheek.
There was a force between us, slowly bringing our lips  together.  We were getting closer and closer... I could feel her breathing against the corner of my mouth.  I closed my eyes and drifted through a dreamland... heaven.
    I shook it all away.
    "I, uh... we're running out of time."
    I pulled away from her, and morphed into a tiger.
    < Marco... Marco!  Hang in there, buddy! >
    I saw his index finger twitch.  Can he hear me?
    < Marco, can you morph?  Morph now, Marco... you can do it. >
    Marco could barely move, barely making a sound.  The last tone in his voice had emptied  into his final scream, which was expelled and wasted into the bleak atmosphere. I stayed behind the wooden wall, carefully making sure that Marco sees me.
    < Marco! > I said once again, yearning for him to make a move < Marco, please... >
    He failed to move, his once light brown skin was covered with blue and black, his muscles lacking the firmness that they used to have.  His whole body was frail, almost paralyzed. My best friend.
    I turned to look at Cassie gazing at her with such despair and helplessness.
    But she didn't pity me.  Instead she eyed me with so much power, intensity, and domination, infiltrating my body  with strength.  And with that same strength, I looked back at Marco. He jerked his head up, his eyes found mine, and I felt a spark ignite inside of me.  Energy filled the room, as he tried to gain composure.  In his eyes, I could see the vision of a fire, burning red hot.
    < Yes, that's it Marco! >
    Electricity seem to travel through his veins, his blood flowing vigorously.  He threw his arms forward, as  thick
black  hairs came sprouting out of his skin one by one.
    RRRRRRRrrrrroooooooooooAAAaaRRRRRRRr!!!!!!!!
    I leaped.  I felt weightless in the air... one... two... three.... four feet towards the two controllers pointing dracon
beams at Marco. Boy, did I get their attention or what?!!!
    I jerked away the beams with my fangs, leaving imprints of my blade-sharp teeth on the wrists and hands of the controllers, as Marco finished his gorilla morph.
    I chased them away.  Hahahaha... run... run... that's it, you fools!  RUN!
    I wanted to rip their throats, tasting their blood inside my mouth...death.
    But I didn't.  They weren't worth it, because inside... they were dead anyway.

Chapter 6

(Cassie)

    I'm bored.  This room smells musty, my butt hurts from sitting down on this hard, and not  to mention cold, concrete floor, mosquitos are sucking the life out of me, and I'm bored.  I sat around, watching Jake chase away those two controllers.    I sat around as Marco, the mighty gorilla, almost crushed his metal cage into a clump of aluminum foil... I sat around, watching them demorph into their human selves. And I sat around as a man crept behind me, his large masculine hands covering my mouth, blocking my respiration.  His other hand combing
through my hair over and over again as I let out a silent scream.  I was filled with disgust... fear.
    Please don't hurt me.
    His hand brushed against my arm, his touch causing an uncomfortable sensation on my skin.  Each sensation caused added to the growing horror in my heart.  Each horror added consumed my courage and replaced it with trepidation.
    I couldn't see his face, but I could see him reach for the luminous silver knife from his back pocket.
    Please don't hurt me.

Chapter 7

(Jake)

    Something's wrong with Cassie.
    "What's up, man?  You okay?"  Marco asked me, puzzled.
    "Nah, It's cool.  Something's wrong with my gut instincts."
    "There's nothing wrong with your instincts, Jake.  There's usually something right."
    Marco's words sent my heart pounding like a maniac, trying to escape out of my chest. The atmosphere changed, and it doesn't smell good.
    " It's Cassie, Marco.  I could sense it.  Hold  on, I'll go check her out."
    "Cool.  I'll stick around just in case those two controllers come back.  Holler when you need me."
    "Yeah, thanks man."
    I walked towards the door... faster... faster... I jogged... and then I ran... bolting out of the room.
    I dashed down the dim halls of the building.  I looked left... right.  Where is she?
    "Jake?"
    A voice called out my name.  I found Cassie. She was breathing heavily, her hands were trembling.  A knife rested against her neck, her hands were tied by a rope behind her back, and by the corner of her eyes I saw something glisten. It was something that I thought she never possessed...  It was something that I thought she would never... ever show....
    It created fury in my once lifeless soul.
    Tears.

Chapter 8

(Cassie)

    I was crying... sobbing... my whole body was in distress... my voice quivering... Whoever was holding a knife against my neck had a drastic effect on me. His presence was like a thousand needles pricking my skin, all at the same time.
    "Who are you?!!!", I asked the man.  "Let me go.... please..."
    I looked up and saw a shadow emerge from the dim halls of the building.
    Jake.  He came back for me.
    "Who are you?"  I asked the man again.  He was breathing heavily behind my ear.  I wanted to turn around, to see his face, so that I could spit at it.  Bastard.
    "Who are you?"
    He didn't need to answer.
    "Tom," Jake said.
    "Hey there, little brother.  You want your girlfriend back?  Come and get her," he snarled.
    "Let her go, Tom!  It's over!  You won... we lost!"  Jake shot back at him.
    "It ain't over ‘til it's over, my man.  It ain't over ‘til you die."  Tom started brushing my cheek with his fingers, his
other hand still tightly gripping the knife half a centimeter away from my destruction.
    "Don't touch her!"  Jake shouted as he took one step forward.
    "Ah, math lesson for today bro'... one step plus one knife, equals one dead Cassie" Tom laughed and I held my breath.
    Don't breathe, I told myself.  Don't breathe. Don't breathe, Don't swallow, Don't move.... It only takes half a centimeter until death...
    No...no, Cassie.  Girl, you are not gonna die. You are not gonna die.  No. "No!"  I screamed, as I let my teeth sink into Tom's hand.  Down... down... down half a centimeter in his skin until he starts bleeding. Down half a centimeter away from the darkness of his bones.
    Instantly, he drew away the knife from my neck.  He cried in pain.
    Jake got him by the arm and twisted it, causing the knife to slip from his hand.  Then, with one blow, he punched him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him.
    Tom fell to the floor... coughing, gasping... gasping for oxygen, gasping for dear life.
    Run... run, now!
    "Let's go, Cass.  Hurry!" Jake directed.
    With my two hands still tied behind my back, the rope binding them causing a burning feeling around my wrists, I ran once again...
    I ran and ran.  It seems like I'm in a marathon, with the grand prize being my survival.

Chapter 9

(Jake)

    We were caught up in a whirlwind.  Running in circles, not knowing where to go.  Up the stairs, down... around the corner, left, right...  We were going nowhere.
    "In here, Cassie!"
    I led her into a room.  We'll be safe there.  I looked behind me for any trace of Tom before closing the door.  Nothing. It was quiet.  The only noise being produced was the whistling of the wind coming from the enormous window in front of us.  Its white lace curtain flowing along with the breeze that came uninvited into the room.
I untied Cassie's hands, slowly concentrating on the knots as she surveyed my face.
    "You didn't fail, Jake" she said, "You saved Marco... and me."
    "Yeah, I did.  I mean, he's my best friend and you're... you're..."  I stuttered, "I could've saved my cousin too... and an Andalite... and a red-tailed hawk."
    "You can't rescue everybody."
    I forced a smile.  "Yeah" was all I can say.  I still felt distant from her... she was so near, and yet so far away.
She seemed so fragile... and yet she's the strongest person anyone could ever meet.  I was scared to touch her.
    But I love her... so much.
    "Jake?  Jake?  Hey, snap out of it!  What are you thinking about?"  She questioned.  I didn't know that I was drifting in my own little world again.
    "Huh?  Wha--?  Oh... the movies" I covered up, "I was just thinking about the movies.  I mean, so where am I gonna take you out now, huh? This is the only damn building left standing up for crying out loud!"
    She giggled.  There was a sparkle in her eyes again.  The sight of it was cleansing to my soul, sending relief into my troubled heart.  He laugh was music to my ears.
    "And what about the prom?  Oh, yes... it could be downstairs.  The lobby, I should say.  You'll be my date and we'll be dancing to the tune of...hmmm, maybe crickets chirping or something like that.  And then we'll get married in that corner over there and have a house in that green room on the second floor.  Oh, wait a minute... we'll have a house on the whole second floor!  It's not exactly Jamaica, but it'll do.  And our honey moon... our honey moon would be right in here.  We could go skydiving... no expenses... just simply jump out that window and...."
    Cassie was still laughing.  "Hey, as long as I'm with you, right?"
    Right.  She is so right.
    There was an uncomfortable silence between us.
    We just gazed at each other, no words said.
    She reached out for my hand and she slowly brought it up her face.  I touched her cheek... one single touch...
paradise. I moved in closer, my forehead stroking against hers.  Her hands rested on my waist.  "Jake?"  she whispered.
    With my other hand, I lightly traced her eyebrows, the outline of her jaw, and her lips... so softly, our skin barely
making any contact.
    "Shhhh..." I muttered.  My hand found her chin and I tipped it up as her hands moved from my waist and up around my neck, faintly touching my nape.  I closed my eyes...   one single touch... No hesitation.
I leaned my head  forward, and my lips found hers.   We kissed, so passionately and yet to tenderly, our lips
slightly touching.  I could feel the wind blow right between us, repelling our every move.
    Ignore the wind, Jake.  Just follow your heart... I told myself. I pulled myself away from Cassie and just stared
deep into her glistening eyes.  God, I love her.
    I closed my eyes once more and kissed her on the forehead.  I enclosed her into a tight embrace... no hesitation... no words said.  I just wanted to hold her, and never... ever... let go.

Chapter 10

(Cassie)

    I was drifting... drifting into his arms, falling deeply in love with him and much more. I'm not far down to paradise.
    SWAKKKK!
    I saw the familiar looking knife penetrate through the wooden door beside me. Tom's back.   My heart started racing again, my blood pumping 200 miles per hour.
    The door knob shifted to the right... to the left... it  was locked. Tom started pounding on the door... "Come out, come out wherever you are..."  he teased.
    The door knob started shaking violently.  Don't break, don't break... I prayed.
    It did.  Tom broke into the room so easily, his eyes wide, his veins almost popping out of his arms, and his mouth was curled into a grin.
    He lunged forward to attack, as Jake held me back for protection... then...
    TSEEEW!   TSEEEW!   TSEEW!
    Three unknown shots hit Tom on the back, causing him to fall face down, flat on the ground.
    Behind him was Marco, holding a dracon beam. " I got bored upstairs so I just grabbed one of these beams from the floor and decided that today, I'm gonna kill me some controllers!  Isn't it exciting?!!"
    I had to laugh... even though his body was all beat up, he still looked macho.
    "Thanks, Marco."  Jake said.
    I ran towards Marco and gave him a hug.
    "No prob!  C'mon, let's get outta' here,"  He answered.
    "Whatever you say, monkey boy," I joked
    Marco let out a chuckle... "Hey, that's Mr. Gorilla boy to you, ma'm!"
    As we walked out of the room, I heard Jake let out a scream...
    I spun around quickly to see what's wrong, and I saw Tom's head jerk up from the pool of blood on the floor and grabbed on to Jake's ankle.  He was alive.
    Just as quickly, a red-tailed hawk flew in through the window, it's talons aimed to scratch out Tom's eyes.
Tobias.

Chapter 11

(Jake)

    Tobias!  Tobias!
    I was so delighted... ecstatic... to see him again.
    "Tobias, you're alive!"
     I was overflowing with emotions.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry... I just...  I just kept on yelling his
name. TOBIAS!
    Tobias!  Tobias!
    "Hey, lover boy... wake up!  That's it Tobias, just slap him around with your wings until he wakes up."
    Rachel...
    "Lover boy... Luvvv ehrr    Boy-yuh..."
    Ax...
    * My wings aren't for slapping, it's for flying.*     Tobias...
    I opened my eyes, puzzled.  I looked around...cages... animals... hay...HAY?
    I was in Cassie's barn.
    "Hello sunshine.  It took you long enough."
    Marco...
    "Huh?  What?"  I asked.
    "So what happened?  You were talking about Tom, and the prom... something about moving to Jamaica and flying out of the window.  Oh, and marrying Cassie... or something."  Marco inquired excitedly.
    "Hey, I'm not marrying anybody until I see a ring on my finger."  I heard Cassie say.
    Cassie.
    I got up and walked towards her.  I locked her hands into mine and said "I'll get that ring for you..."
    She smiled, " Perhaps someday..."

One touch... paradise.
One smile... eternity.

                                                    The End

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